Radiation Treatment for Acne: Problems Years Later

Over the years, the popularity of treating severe acne with laser, or radiation, therapy has increased. Laser therapy kills the bacteria that cause severe acne.

Healthy Skin

Radiation therapy uses light pulses to kill bacteria deep under the skin. Those who use radiation therapy have smoother, clearer skin than those who treat acne with only topical creams or medication.

Breast Cancer

A study by Dr. Esther M. John at the Northern California Cancer Center, published in the International Journal of Cancer, found that women who underwent radiation therapy for acne had a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Pigment Problems

Laser treatments, which sometimes involve multiple sessions, can cause pigmentation damage. This makes the skin uneven in color.

Thyroid Cancer

The Sinai Hospital in Toronto found that among those with thyroid cancer, the condition was more severe in patients who had undergone radiation treatment for acne.

Scarring

Those who undergo radiation therapy for acne tend to have fewer acne scars.

References

• Breast Cancer: Low-Dose Radiation and Breast Cancer Risk
• Acne Guide: Surgical/Laser Treatment
• Medicine Net: Radiation Exposure Linked to Aggressive Thyroid Cancers
• Palomar: Acne Treatments